The Role of Technical and Vocational Education relative to Academic Schooling in the Transition of the Youth to Labour Markets in Kenya

This paper explores the role of Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) relative to academic education in the transition of youths to the labor market in Kenya. Kenya’s education system has experienced tremendous changes and diversification over the years, from replacing the old curriculum with the 8-4-4 system, and later transitioning to a competency-based curriculum, not to mention an overhaul of TVET via the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act No. 29 of 2013. Due to these reforms, enrolment in TVET institutions has progressed upward over the past five years. The growth of the TVET sector has been promoted to help curb the rising rates of youth unemployment, but the evidence of the effectiveness of reforms to date has been sparse. The study provides evidence on two issues: (i) the effect of TVET on youth employment relative to academic education and (ii) the structure and status of the TVET sector in Kenya. We used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to generate the evidence. Findings demonstrate that youth with a TVET background have strong prospects of securing employment than those without TVET skills. However, the data from KIIs reveal gaps in the TVET sector that hinder graduates from competing effectively with their university counterparts in the labor market. The study recommends a review of the curriculum to promote holistic TVET training and match it with current technological innovations.